Critical evaluation of predictive modelling of a cervical disc design
Date
2007-12
Authors
De Jongh, Cornel
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Abstract
This thesis is concerned with the simulation of the in vivo biomechanical performance of a
cervical disc replacement. A representative (averaged) maximum range of motion (ROM),
determined by measurement of 10 student participants (5 male, 5 female), was used as head
motion input to a simulation model of the cervical spine containing a disc implant at the
C5/C6 intervertebral level. Intradiscal pressure, relative applied force on the C5 vertebrae,
bending moments and vertebral rotations were recorded. The force and motion components
of the results obtained were critically evaluated against the ISO and ASTM experimental
protocol standards, probing the representativeness of these standards to the actual in vivo
behaviour of the cervical functional spinal unit. Further, the wear resulting from a lifetime
(10 million cycles) of the ISO prescribed -and simulation determined input cycles was
simulated using a linear wear model with a triangulation technique for volume lost due to
wear, and compared to in vitro results in the literature. The inputs used for the wear model
were determined from a validated non-linear static contact finite element method (FEM)
model. The simulation “chain” shows great potential as a comparative tool for the preexperimental
testing of spinal implant designs and may be used with relative success as an
alternative to expensive prototype testing.
Description
Thesis (MScEng (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007.
Keywords
Spine biomechanics, Fem analysis, Simulation chain, Wear simulation, Dissertations -- Mechanical engineering, Theses -- Mechanical engineering, Spinal implants, Intervertebral disk prostheses